Katy City Council OKs funding to promote sports

Katy City Council sets aside funds to promote college basketball conference

KAREN HASTINGS, CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT

Published
5:30 am CDT, Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Katy City Council members have approved a $110,000 grant that would be used to promote next year's Southland Conference college basketball tournament and related tourism if the event returns to Katy.

After hosting the men's and women's basketball tournament at the Merrell Center since 2008, Katy is now a finalist with Beaumont for the 2012 event.

At the April 11 City Council meeting, a conference official said Katy has been a "fantastic" host, but that conference leaders want to explore "what else is out there."

The conference had a fan poll on its website asking where next year's conference should occur. As of April 13, approximately 65 percent of the 794 voters favored Katy over Beaumont.

Council members approved the grant from hotel occupancy taxes, which are paid by hotel guests and must be used to promote city tourism and the hotel industry. If the Southland Conference decides to remain in Katy, the conference will use the money for billboards, magazine and radio advertising, plus rental and operating costs at the Merrell Center.

"Destination Katy" has become a catchphrase in the conference, signifying the race to the championship, conference commissioner Thomas Burnett told council. "It's going to take a lot to change what we're doing," he said.

A decision between Katy and Beaumont will be made in May, Burnett said. He said this year's tournament attracted more than 10,000 fans and 100 media representatives and resulted in at least 1,200 guest nights for Katy hotels.

Carol Adams,councilwoman, said she enjoyed attending a few of this year's games, but also enjoyed seeing buses of conference participants parked at Katy restaurants.

"It's been a great experience for us," Mayor Don Elder said. "It's been great for our community."

Emergency generator

Council members voted to award a $317,813 bid to McDonald Electric of Houston for a new emergency generator at city Water Plant No. 2.

Purchase of the emergency generator comes after the city saw two of its water wells go down at the same time last year. The city was forced to replace an aging water well at the No. 2 plant near the police department and to approve emergency pump repairs at another well at Water Plant No. 6 on Highway Boulevard.

"This generator will supply emergency power in case of hurricanes or other natural disasters," said city engineer David Leyendecker.

The $317,813 includes the base bid amount of $262,469, plus amounts for contingencies, engineering, surveying and other items. The city, which operates six water well plants, will pay for the generator from its reserve funds.

Elder defended the dues, saying the group works to attract new jobs to the area.

"One of the biggest benefits is we have is a partnership, a working relationship … to help bring in business," he said.

Gore has unsuccessfully opposed such economic development payments before, including those the city pays to the Katy Area Economic Development Council. He said he was disappointed that no one from the Waller County group came to the meeting.

"They're asking us for money and they're not even here. I'm not going to vote for it," he said.

In 2009, Waller County dropped out as a dues-paying member of the Katy Area EDC.